Taraba: Simulated Flood in Danube's Side-channel System Will Help Environment

Dobrohost, 10 March (TASR) - An extraordinary artificial flood on the left side-channel system of the Danube River will benefit the environment, as last year was among the driest since the Gabcikovo hydropower plant was put in operation, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National/SNS nominee) told a press conference on Tuesday, with Peter Molda, director of state-run water management construction company Vodohospodarska Vystavba (VV), also attending. The current flow rate of water released into the channels is as high as 120 cubic metres per second, while such volumes were not possible last year. But if this year is equally dry, significant damage in terms of the environment could occur in these side-channel systems, said Taraba. According to Molda, VV was able to allow the high flow rate thanks to favourable hydrological conditions seen about two weeks ago. "Over recent days, this has accumulated enough water for us to supply old Danube riverbeds with water primarily needed by animals," said Taraba, adding that such a simulated flood will not be possible in the foreseeable future due to repairs planned by VV in the side-channel system. The extraordinary flooding has been welcomed by conservation organisation BROZ. "Floods and increased flows are literally life-giving for the floodplain forest ecosystem, for all the plants and animals that depend on it," said BROZ chair Tomas Kusik, adding that the increased flow will flush the side-channel system and move sediments. Taraba also pointed out that due to the increased water flow, electricity isn't being generated at the Gabcikovo hydropower plant, with the losses amounting up to €1 million. The artificial flood was launched by VV in the Danube's left side-channel system on Saturday (7 March), and it's due to last for 21 days until 28 March, with an increased water-flow rate of up to 120 metres per second using an intake structure at Dobrohost (Trnava region). The flow is being gradually increased to reach a maximum level that will be maintained for three days. It will then be reduced gradually to a minimum of 10 metres per second before the standard flows are resumed. jrg/df